Buckle Up Or Else In Nn Today

Police warn drivers to buckle their seat belts or risk getting a ticket.

People driving in Newport News today might want to buckle their seat belts as they travel to and from their destinations.

The same goes for motorists using Route 60 to travel between the Richmond and Hampton Roads area on Friday.

Law enforcement agencies across the state are participating in the nationwide "Click It or Ticket" seat belt enforcement campaign. The safety initiative, which began Monday and runs through June 3, is geared toward raising people's awareness about the importance of using seat belts.

From 6 to 10 this morning, patrol officers and specialized units from the Newport News Police Department will be on Warwick Boulevard between J. Clyde Morris Boulevard and Nettles Drive checking to see whether people are using their seat belts and child safety restraints.

They'll also check to make sure people are obeying the speed limit.

A number of law enforcement agencies including the James City County, Williamsburg and New Kent police departments have partnered to enforce traffic laws along Route 60. Much of the focus on Friday will be on seat belt use, especially at night, said Sgt. L.S. Bailey of the New Kent Sheriff's Department.

The Virginia State Police will also participate in the "Click It or Ticket" campaign and the All-American Buckle-Up Week safety initiative, which runs from May 21 through 28.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 15,294 people died in traffic crashes in 2005 between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

In Virginia, 750 people were killed in vehicle-related crashes that year, according to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Of those who died, 454 were unrestrained. *